How To Delete Windows Update Files Manually

The size of the folder where windows update files are stored is condign aconcern well-nigh users. The largest consumer of disc infinite on Windows Clients are all the outdated and redundant files installed in the Component Store are stored in the WinSxS directory. If you are wondering if information technology is safe to delete windows update cache files or clean up windows updates that you lot do non demand whatsoever more than on your figurer, our first suggestion is: Delete windows update files should be usedONLYas a concluding resort for the reason that it is not more often than not recommended to manually change whatsoever contents on the C:\Windows drive. Inorthward conclusion, please utilize this ready at your own hazard but after you lot have gone through all other options to become the Windows Updates to apply successfully. If your Windows Update is not working properly or not working at all or if y'all detect that the size of this folder has really grown large, then you tin can consider deleting the Software Distribution folder in Windows 10/8/7.

Where is the location for windows 7 and windows 10 update files? Their location in windows seven and windows 10 can be found on the post-obit path: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

Delete windows update files

And so how do we cleanup clean windows update and delete or reset Windows Update files and history? We are presenting today the manually method and the automatic 1:

Delete windows update files manually (Windows 7 / 10)

Cease the Windows update service before we tin clear the update cache. To do that, search for "Services" in the Start carte and open it. If you are using your system as a standard user, then open it as an administrator using the right-click card.

Run equally ambassador Windows Services
Once the Services window has been opened, find the service "Windows Update," right-click on it and and then select the option "Terminate." This activeness stops the Windows update service

Stop Windows Update Service
Afterward stopping the service, printing "Win + R," enter the below path and press the Enter button. This is the folder where Windows stores all the files related to Windows updates.C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\

Open SoftwareDistribution Folder
One time you lot are in this folder, open the "Download" folder, select all the files in it and just press the Delete key on your keyboard to delete all the files. You might exist prompted for administrator permissions; simply click on the "Continue" button to consummate the process.
Open up the Services window over again and outset the "Windows Update service again by right-clicking on it and and so select the option "Start."

Delete windows update files automatically (Windows 7 / ten)

If you want to skip all the manually steps mentioned you can simply create a .bat or .cmd script to automatically delete windows update files. Open east new text file, re-create the following commands and paste. After that, save the text file as .bat or .cmd. Practise non forget to run the script equally ambassador:

net cease wuauserv

rmdir %windir%\softwaredistribution /s /q

regsvr32 /s wuaueng.dll

regsvr32 /south wuaueng1.dll

regsvr32 /s atl.dll

regsvr32 /s wups.dll

regsvr32 /southward wups2.dll

regsvr32 /s wuweb.dll

regsvr32 /s wucltui.dll

net start wuauserv

Windows Update Cleanup

Windows Update Cleanup Process Manually (Windows 7 / 10)

1. Click on Start – Go To My Computer – Select Organization C – Right click and then select Disk Cleanup
  
  Run Disk Cleanup
2. Disk Cleanup scans and calculates how much space you will be able to free on that drive
  
  Disk Cleanup Running
3. After that, yous demand to select Windows Update Cleanup and printing OK
  
  Delete windows update files
4. If zippo is found for Windows Update Cleanup to perform, it volition not show upwards as an option. Subsequently performing that, yous may not be able to uninstall whatsoever of the updates currently applied. However, if y'all need to roll back to a previous version, yous can yet manually use the previous version of the update. If y'all highlight Windows Update Cleanup, you're presented with the following details
  
  Windows Alert nigh Windows Updates
When you lot click ok, Deejay Cleanup runs and cleans up the unnecessary files on your machine. Y'all can meet it running the Windows Update Cleanup as function of this beneath

The process volition start so y'all need to await. If you lot check into the Chore Manager – Processes y'all volition find: cleanmgr.exe started. Later the whole process is finished you need to restart your PC. You volition be non prompted to reboot. However, when y'all next reboot, you'll see Windows configuring Windows updates on shutdown and Cleaning up on startup. It might take a while and so don't panic! The larger the cleanup, the longer it will take.

Windows Update Cleanup

Configuring Windows Updates
Windows Update Cleanup Automatically (Windows 7 / x)

With this method you will be able to automate the whole process mentioned to a higher place, for example when you have allow'south say 100-200 users.

If y'all desire to apply the whole process automatically for all your PC in your domain you need to employ PsTools: PsExec.exe. Below you can find all the steps:
- Re-create the Clean-up .bat script mentioned above in every PC in your domain using SCCM. You tin copy it into D drive.
@echo on

repeat Config cleanmgr flag 5100.

%SystemRoot%\System32\reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches\Update Cleanup" /5 StateFlags0011 /t REG_DWORD /d 0x2 /f > d:\log1.txt

%systemroot%\System32\cleanmgr.exe /sagerun:11 > d:\log2.txt
- Open CMD as Administrator and run:
PsExec.exe @cleanup_list.txt >>cleanup_list_log.txt -c D:\PSTools\CleanUp_Update_V1.3.bat

cleanup_list.txt: List with all PC in you domain.

cleanup_list_log.txt: The log created afterward the run

D:\PSTools\CleanUp_Update.bat Clean-upwardly script copied before on all PC